Yoga philosophy question

[Guest guest]

I've experienced just what you're talking about

here, right after 9/11. <br><br>Along with the

teacher's Gita-ish cheer for what transpired in NYC, came

the addendum, "don't worry, Guruji is

okay."<br><br>Well hold on. Seems to be a contradictory message

there. Anyone catch it?<br><br>We should smiling

acknowedge the deaths of thousands as a "natural" event, and

at the same time, feel thankful that our Guru was

avoided injury to his "old suit of clothes"?<br><br>Let

me be first to say it here -- if you really give the

Gita careful read, you'll find that much of it is

contradictory and makes no practical sense

whatsoever.<br><br>The greatest Irony here is that the Gita is Terrorist

Philosophy, a story of a man being counselled by God to kill

thousands of his enemies "for the sake of

dharma."<br><br>Because of the Gita's reputation as a work of "great

spiritual literature," inspired by Divine Minds, it

continues to get respect and people continue to interpret

it in ways that avoid its direct

message:<br><br>What is that message? <br><br>Physical life (i.e. LIFE

ITSELF) has no meaning.

[Guest guest]

Yoga does not preach non-violence like a

religion. It does not try to convert any one to its cause.

It only states a method by which one can attain

something: Self-Realization.<br><br>The path of Ashtanga

Yoga may not be appropriate for George Bush or for one

of his soldiers. They have been born with a

particular karma and duty in life. Arjuna, the character in

the Bhagvad Gita who has the dialogue with Krishna,

belongs to the Kshatriya (warrior) Caste - his duty is to

fight. What will make the difference to him when passing

from one life to the next is his attitude when

performing an action. <br><br>What we take into the next

life according to Yoga are Samskaras, or latent

impressions of previous actions - these can cause continued

suffering and sickness. When the body decomposes all that

is left is the psychic energy containing all the

impressions thoughts and feelings related to life. Yoga

teaches, that if you want to be free from these

attachments and aversions which create such confusion and

cloud the perception of and union with the true Self,

that in addition to the practices of Asana Pranayama

and Meditation, one needs to perfect dispassion in

action by means of observing the Yamas and

Niyamas.<br><br>Perceiving the true Self, the most subtle inner aspect of

ourselves cannot take place when we are distracted by the

cravings for or aversions to the gross material world. But

the path of yoga continues over many lifetimes

(except in very rare cases), so that we may gradually

refine and perfect ourselves. I wonder how many of us

(myself included) truly desire the ultimate goal of yoga.

We want to "enjoy" the pleasures of this life - even

if this involves seeing the suffering of others

(like David Life and Sharon Gannon) - but yoga teaches

that indulging these pleasures results in endless

suffering, sickness and delusion.<br><br>It is an age old

philosophical question whether one is as guilty of an action by

passively allowing it to happen as actively performing it

oneself. For instance the Tibetans, revered by many as the

most spiritually oriented of people, eat meat, but

have others do the killing for them. Are they guilty

of Himsa (violence)?

[Guest guest]

ho imbecile, those teachers are morons and have no business imposing their

political views on people in a yoga class. if i were you i would call them on

it. damn hippies.

[Guest guest]

Guy, thanks for sharing your insight. That was a great post and a refreshing

break from the recent melodrama.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.<br><br>I'm

looking at the Gita's advice on a somewhat more human and

practical level, away from its mystical underpinnings and

speculation on what will happen after death -- which none of

us can know.<br><br>Police officers, War veterans,

prison executioners and others who are put in the

position of having to kill other human beings -- for the

most noble of reasons -- typically report a common

reaction:<br><br>Killing other humans, for ANY reason, even for

self-defense, causes a severe and long lasting shock to the

psyche.<br><br>John Robbins and others who've interviewed

slaugherhouse workers find the same adverse reaction in those

who kill animals.<br><br>Killing is a violation of

natural law.<br><br>Since this is so, how is it that

people are persuaded to kill other humans?<br><br>By the

argument that their killing is an act of Righteousness.